As a homeowner or even as a tenant, it is important to know how you can help protect yourself from a burglar.

Since burglary is an unlawful entry into a building with intent to commit a crime, it is important that you are aware of the facts related to burglary, what to do in case your home is broken into as well as the measures you can take to secure your home from a burglar.

The following questions are some of the burglary FAQs, facts, stats, and tips that you should be familiar with to help you prevent break-ins and deter burglars.

Who commits most burglaries?

1. Organized Burglars
Organized burglars plan their crimes to reduce the risk of capture and increase their gain.

Organized burglars mostly target unoccupied homes and leave behind little to no evidence of the crime. They take time to “case the joint” and familiarize themselves with the movements of the victims and the details of the target before committing the crime.

Most organized burglars have a side job in a flexible profession like construction or delivery and know enough about police investigations. They will likely have a family or a spouse, own property, and may have past criminal records.

2. Disorganized Burglars
These burglars are amateurs who rely on brute force and leave behind plenty of evidence.

These burglars smash windows, ransack the house, and leave behind plenty of evidence including fingerprints and blood.

They are impulsive and reckless and are motivated by money, goods or drugs. In many cases, they don’t steal any property because they didn’t find what they were looking for or were interrupted in the middle of the act.

But that’s not all.

There are multiple instances of such burglars being discovered by homeowners playing video games, sleeping in the bed or making a snack in the kitchen.

Unlike organized burglars, they might not have any prior criminal record and are often too poor to own a car and live within walking or bicycling distance of their targets.

Disorganized burglars are also unlikely to have a job or a family and are likely to have issues with drugs and/or alcohol.

3. Opportunistic Burglars
These burglars take advantage of an unlocked door or open window to enter the target location and impulsively take random items, often for personal use.

Opportunistic burglars rarely use tools or break and enter the target location. They will spend very little time inside the premises and can be easily scared.

These burglaries are often committed by multiple teenagers and the motivations are less criminal and more about bragging rights. Areas near the vicinity of schools and colleges are susceptible to opportunistic burglaries.

The perps often have no previous criminal record or might have been involved in related crimes like shoplifting.

4. Interpersonal Burglaries
The last class of burglars don’t target valuables or money: they are more about intimidating and scaring the victim.

Most interpersonal burglars are known to the victim and the crime is committed in their presence. These burglars are overwhelmingly male and are usually known to the victim, who turn out to be usually females.

The perps might not have any criminal records but the ones that do would likely be reported for domestic violence, stalking, voyeurism or rape.

These burglaries don’t hurt the victim financially because the items stolen usually have sentimental value. But these burglaries are more dangerous as they can easily escalate into serious crimes like molestation, rape or even murder.

Top tips to help deter organized and opportunistic burglars

Close and lock windows, doors and garden gates when you go out.

Don’t leave bikes and valuable garden equipment in public view.

Use motion sensor security lighting at nighttime.

Always activate your home security system alarm when you go out.

How do burglars use social media?

According to a survey of 500 convicted burglars in New York and New Jersey, 57 respondents admitted that they used social media to plan their burglaries.

While older burglars follow the traditional method of observing the victim’s routines before making their move younger and tech-savvy thieves use Facebook, Twitter, Swarm, Instagram and Google Maps not only to determine items worth stealing but also to track the movements of the victims through check-ins and status updates.

One of the highest profile cases where social media allegedly might have played a part was the heist at Kim Kardashian’s luxury Paris penthouse where robbers tied her up and stole her 20-carat diamond engagement ring worth $4 million and a jewelry box containing 12 items.

It has been speculated that Kardashian’s habit of oversharing on social media gave robbers the information about her schedule.

Top tips to help keep your home safe from burglars using social media

Avoid using your home address in social media profiles and phone directories.

Wait until you return home before posting holiday photos on social media.

Resist the urge to ‘check-in’ on social media while you are away.

How do burglars case a house?

Burglars like to break and enter without being seen. Therefore, in general burglars look for the following while selecting a target location:

Houses with privacy fences and overgrown trees and bushes which can provide cover.

Inactivated or unarmed burglar alarms

Houses with toys or playground equipment in the driveway

Unmonitored burglar alarms

Open doors and windows

Signs of non-occupancy, like newspapers and bills piling up, drawn curtains, and always on security lamp.

Houses without dogs.

Houses without cars in the driveway or garage,

Houses without vigilant neighbors, or houses in secluded areas.

Houses with untrodden snow on the front yard.

In a study on burglary motivation, target selection, deterrents, and burglary techniques, two-thirds of incarcerated burglars in the study said their burglaries were opportunistic. However, regardless of whether their burglaries were planned or unplanned, most burglars said that cameras and surveillance equipment, burglar alarms, occupancy, barking dogs, cars in the driveway, or neighbors about would deter them.

Top tips to help put off burglars casing your home

Trim hedges and trees to reduce cover and hiding places for burglars.

Avoid leaving windows and doors in public view open on a regular basis.

Make sure valuable ornaments, electronics and jewelry are not on show.

Check credentials before allowing salespeople or workmen into your home.

When you’re on vacation, use a timer for internal lighting and leave curtains open. Ask a neighbor to collect mail and use your trash can.

Install a burglar alarm and activate it when you go out.

How do burglars get in?

Once the burglar has determined that the house is unoccupied they will first check to see if the doors are locked.

Many people often forget to lock their doors, making the burglar’s job easy. If the door is locked, the burglar will try to search for a spare key often hidden underneath the welcome mat or a potted plant.

If the key isn’t found the burglar will force the door open with a crowbar, unlatch or force the lock on the window, or in a worst-case scenario, break a windowpane.

Illuminate your property with motion sensor lights at nighttime. Burglars like to be invisible.

A home security alarm will scare off most intruders who break in.

When are burglars most likely to break in?

Most burglars will target houses between 10 am and 3 pm on weekdays when adults are likely to be out at work or running errands and children are still at school.

Burglars prefer to avoid nighttime when houses are most likely to be occupied.

The summer months also see a spike in burglaries when many homeowners use their yards more frequently, leaving sheds unlocked, and they go on vacation leaving houses empty.

Top tips to help prevent a burglary while you’re on vacation

Close and lock all windows, doors, and garden gates to secure your house.

Tidy away garden tools. Lock your shed and garage to prevent theft and to stop equipment being used to break into your house.

Set up timer-controlled lights to come on at dusk and go off at your usual bedtime.

Don’t close curtains or blinds that are usually left open. For burglars scouting properties, this is a signal that your house is unoccupied.

Arrange for a neighbor to collect your mail and newspapers and to use your outdoor trash can so your house looks occupied.

Activate your home security system and leave a spare house key with a trusted neighbor rather than hiding it on your property.

Where do burglaries occur most?

According to data from FBI, Lake Charles in Louisiana is the most burglary-prone city, followed by Vallejo in California and Pueblo in Colorado.

City, State

Burglaries (per capita)

U.S. Rank

Lake Charles, LA

42.03

1

Vallejo, CA

38.79

2

Pueblo, CO

37.86

3

Youngstown, OH

35.41

4

Springfield, OH

34.95

5

Dayton, OH

34.29

6

Canton, OH

33.12

7

Santa Fe, NM

32.41

8

Memphis, TN

31.22

9

Albany, GA

30.18

10

Albany, GA

However, if you lived in Palatine, Illinois, the chances of your home being burgled are the lowest. Check out this list of ten cities with the lowest incident of burglary on a per capita basis.

City, State

Burglaries (per capita)

U.S. Rank

Palatine, IL

0.52

1

Orland Park, IL

1.08

2

Peabody, MA

1.22

3

Fishers, IN

1.31

4

Leesburg, VA

1.40

5

Ramapo Town, NY

1.43

6

Novi, MI

1.45

7

Carmel, IN

1.49

8

Rochester Hills, MI

1.60

9

Johns Creek, GA

1.68

10

Albany, GA

All cities in these lists have populations of more than 50,000.

The U.S. Department of Justice Community Oriented Policing Services (COPS) suggest burglaries are more likely on properties close to high-traffic areas where local residents take less notice of strangers coming and going. Proximity to places with a ready pool of offenders such as shopping centers, schools, treatment centers, drug markets and areas of high urban crime increases the risk of being targeted by opportunistic or disorganized burglars.

How many burglaries occur where nothing is taken?

An average of 28% for all the reported cases of burglary falls under this category.

To make it harder for an intruder to steal your possessions, make sure your valuables are not left in an obvious place like the master bedroom, especially when you go out. Burglars tend to operate in a short time period to avoid being caught so make it hard for them to find and steal items. Most opportunistic burglars will flee if a security alarm goes off when they break in or if they encounter a barking dog.

Even if nothing is taken, burglaries still cause psychological harm to victims who may no longer feel safe in their home. People who are burglarized more than once may feel the need to move to a new house.

Top tips to send a burglar away empty-handed

Hide valuables in a less obvious place than the master bedroom.

Secure your safe box to the floor.

Install CCTV cameras to scare off intruders. Even a fake camera might do the trick if a burglar doesn’t have time to check.

Where do burglars first look for valuables?

Head straight to the master bedroom to look for cash and jewelry in safes, under the bed, closets, and drawers.

Rifle through the bathroom cabinet for prescription drugs and pills.

Proceed to the living room, kitchen, and other common areas to look for jewelry, valuables, game consoles, electronic appliances.

Most burglars tend to avoid kid’s rooms and will haul away safes if they aren’t too heavy or bolted down.

Top tips to help keep your valuables safe from burglars

Hide your valuables, jewelry, cash and passports somewhere less obvious but accessible if you need to get to them quickly.

Keep prescription drugs in a locked cabinet to make it harder for burglars to act quickly and quietly, and for child safety reasons.

When you go out, hide portable electronics and valuables from view.

What are the most common items stolen in burglaries?

Burglars are most likely to steal portable household appliances and electronics (TV, DVD players, game consoles, laptops etc.) followed by personal items (clothing, furs, jewelry, luggage, watches, and keys) and then cash/credit cards etc. If your car keys are left on show, a burglar who came on foot may steal larger items and transport them in your car.

Who experiences the most burglaries?

Burglars chose a particular type of target depending on several factors.

Here’s what the data from a Bureau of Justice Statistics report says about burglary targets based on the type of households.

Data from 2004-11

In terms of annual income, the analysis found that households with income of $14,999 or less were more vulnerable than higher-income households, probably because of weaker security measures.

Here’s the data for burglary rate for 2011.

In terms of location, rural areas are slightly more susceptible to burglaries than urban ones while suburban households are the safest.

Rented houses are more vulnerable to burglars: Data states that 18.3 owned households per thousand were robbed in 2011, versus 32.7 rented households per thousand.

According to a study of convicted burglars, detached single-family residences are vulnerable if they lack electronic security systems, especially if they are hidden behind high walls, fences or hedges and have multiple escape routes. Likewise, corner houses have fewer neighbors and more escape options.

Why do burglars ring the doorbell?

Burglars ring the doorbell to check whether the house has any occupants. If they cannot hear the TV, music, people talking, or a dog barking, CopTalk says burglars assume the house is unoccupied and will look for an open window or unlocked door to break in. A study of incarcerated burglars reports burglars may ring the doorbell on separate occasions to determine if the occupants are on vacation.

If an occupant opens the door, burglars will pose as a market researcher, a door-to-door salesperson or simply ask after a fictitious occupant or for directions. If you notice your doorbell ringing at odd times or for suspicious reasons, contact the police. A doorbell camera provides extra security, so you can see who is at the door. Video footage can also help police identify and catch burglars. Former burglars report that a CCTV camera, a dog barking, or the sound of a TV are top deterrents to burglars looking for a target property.

Top tips to help prevent bogus callers becoming burglars

When you are home alone, playing music or having the radio or TV on in the background signals that your house is occupied.

Leave your locked car on the drive during the daytime when you are home.

Install a doorbell camera so you can see and record who is at the door.

Encourage your dog to bark when the doorbell rings.

How many burglaries are drug related?

A significant percentage of burglaries are committed under the influence of drugs. Many burglars also look to steal drugs, especially prescription drugs in homes and pharmacies.

Are burglars violent?

Burglary is considered to be a crime against property and is classified as such by the National Crime Report and National Crime Victimization Survey (NCVS).

But there’s a rub:

Many state laws and the federal Armed Career Criminal Act consider burglaries to be violent crimes and the perps are prosecuted as such under the United States Sentencing Guidelines.

The United States Supreme Court has considered burglary crimes to be both violent and nonviolent crimes on a case-by-case basis.

According to National Incident-Based Reporting System data from 1998-2007, only 0.9% of rural burglaries result in violence, while NCVS data suggest that 7.6% burglaries in dense urban areas can turn violent.

Top tips to help avoid being attacked by a burglar

If you have a home security system with panic key fob, alert the police to a break-in.

Leave the property if it’s safe to do so, otherwise find a safe place to hide.

Do not confront the burglar unless you are acting in self-defense or protecting family members.

Are burglars deterred by alarm signs?

Security signs aren’t a surefire method of deterring burglars. While casual burglars may give your house a pass, determined thieves will ignore the signs if they feel that the returns outweigh the risks.

Example of an alarm sign

Using alarm signs from companies have another disadvantage in that they can give burglars information about your alarm system. On the other hand, unmarked signs can come off as fake.

Top tips for letting burglars know your home is secure

Display home security signs that are visible from multiple access points.

If your area has a Neighborhood Watch scheme, display plenty of signs.

Do home alarm systems help prevent burglaries?

Yes.

A survey of convicted burglars found that a security alarm going off would scare away most, though some might also try to disarm the alarm.

A University of Carolina study of convicted burglars found that most burglars did not disable alarms and are deterred by the visible presence of an alarm. Over 40% said they would abort a burglary attempt if they discovered an alarm. Only one in ten burglars studied reported they would attempt a burglary regardless of an alarm.

Top tips for home security systems to help reduce the risk of burglary

A home security system need not cost the earth, yet it deters burglars, protecting your valuable and sentimental items and preventing psychological trauma.

A basic system will trigger an alarm when a burglar enters your home via monitored doors and windows and when burglars cross the path of internal room sensors.

A more comprehensive system will alert your local police, providing details of the entry point.

Do visible security camera systems help prevent burglaries?

Burglars are wary of security cameras, and will usually give a wide berth to houses under camera surveillance.

And even if they don’t know about a camera, they will usually run when they find out they have been caught on tape: check out how these burglars escaped when they found out they were seen.

However, not all cameras are the same.

If you use a smart camera from Google Nest which uses Bluetooth and WiFi you should have a backup. Burglars can get within Bluetooth range (usually 15 feet) and take advantage of software vulnerabilities to shut down the system.

On the flip side, the presence of a camera sometimes can also be a sign that the house is worth robbing and might encourage determined burglars.

Top tips for letting burglars know they are being watched

Install a visible security camera at your front and rear entrances.

Burglars prefer to break into unoccupied houses. If you are home or your camera is connected to your mobile, ask the visitor what they want. If they act suspiciously, let them know you are calling the police.

How do burglars disable alarms?

1) Lack of electric power
Alarm systems are either plugged into an electric socket or have hardwired connections. If there are power outages, alarm systems are useless.

While many homeowners have backup batteries, most of these batteries are not properly maintained and deliver standby power only for 12 hours.

Houses in areas with prolonged power cuts, often during natural disasters like blizzards, floods, storms etc. can be vulnerable to burglaries.

This news clip highlights a typical burglary in the aftermath of natural disaster.

2) Exposed phone lines
Most alarm systems use wired phone connections to alert alarm companies or authorities in the event of a break in.

Professional burglars make it a point to survey the target for phone lines which can be easily snipped off with a pair of pliers before the burglary.

3) Default codes on alarm systems
When an installer first sets up the alarm a default code (typically 1,2,3,4) is used to program the system.

When alarms are installed, a homeowner is supposed to change the default code to something specific and harder to remember and ensure that the older code doesn’t work.

But most people don’t change their codes.

This makes it easy for a burglar to enter your house through a door or a window, take advantage of the 30-60 second delay most alarms have before going off and disarm the system from the alarm panel without alerting anyone.

4) Alarms which can be remotely disarmed
Many alarms can be remotely armed or disarmed using a key fob.

While these models are more convenient for homeowners, the key fob remote can be easily stolen, making it simple for burglars to disarm the system before walking into your home.

Top tips to make it difficult for burglars to disable your alarm system

Change the default code after your alarm system is installed.

Maintain the backup battery so the system works during power outages.

Keep your key fobs in a secure place and not in your sun visor or your pocket where accidental pressure could deactivate the alarm or open the garage door as you drive away.

How do burglars get past dogs?

Burglars hate dogs.

More specifically, they hate dogs not for their bite but for their bark.

A furiously barking dog can draw the attention of neighbors or other people, and make it impossible for the burglar to make a quiet entrance or a getaway.

While the size of the dog doesn’t really matter, burglars are particularly wary of smaller dogs who tend to bark more than bigger ones.

Top tips to help keep your dog safe from burglars

Make sure external doors are locked, even when you are home. If your home is detached and secluded or a higher risk target for other reasons, windows should be open enough for ventilation but not enough that a burglar can enter.

Encourage your dog to bark when the doorbell rings.

Use visible security cameras and an alarm sign to deter burglars.

Do burglars come back?

Odds are, yes!

If burglars have already gotten away with loot once, they are more likely to return and target your house because they are familiar with the target.

COPS say risk factors such as occupancy or location may be hard to change, making houses previously targeted up to four times more likely of being burglarized again. Burglars already know the security measures they must contend with, the response time of police, a general idea of the layout of the house, the schedules of the inhabitants, and the valuables they might be able to steal.

Even if you are fortunate or careful enough for burglars to avoid you, chances are high that they will target another house in the same neighborhood.

How many burglaries are cleared with arrests?

According to FBI statistics, burglaries have the second lowest clearance rate at 13.6% in 2014 (motor vehicle theft at 12.8% was the lowest cleared crime).

How much of stolen properties are recovered?

Stolen property is difficult to recover unless it is a unique item that can be more easily traced. Electronic items are rarely recovered. A University of North Carolina study of convicted burglars found that 65% of burglars attempted to get rid of stolen items immediately. Burglars who didn’t move them on mostly stored items at a friend’s house.

While chances of stolen properties being recovered from burglars are low there are some things you can do to tip the scales in your favor.

Check out local pawn shops to see if burglars have offloaded your property.

How fast do the Police respond to an alarm?

According to security experts, police response to an alarm will depend on the priority level.

Burglaries verified by audio and video or calls to 911 made while a break-in is in progress are accorded the highest priority by police, and the average response time nationwide is 7 minutes.

However, police response times will increase for unverified triggered alarms (94-98% alarms are false) and also for alarms raised after the burglary is over.

Response times for alarms triggered in isolated locations are also higher than those triggered in cities under the jurisdiction of local police departments. For the former, response times can be up to 1 hour or more.

According to media reports, the average response time for alarms is around 30 minutes.

In many cases, burglars trigger alarms intentionally to check out the police response time, and then plan the robbery so that they would be long gone before the police arrive.

While these stats aren’t comforting there is a bright spot: 60% of convicted burglars avoided a home with a security system and targeted other locations.

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